CAGE COPHER, BOGDAN CHIPARA, DEBORAH BOTH, TOMAS BLOMBERG, MÅRTEN HEDBERG, PATRIK JÄMBECK, THOMAS LINDERHOLM AND PETER LIPPMAN
THIS 5000M2 PROJECT WILL BE HOME TO A UNIQUE SCHOOL THAT SPECIALIZES IN ACTIVITY-BASED LEARNING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY. THE FORM OF THE BUILDING IS A CONTINUATION OF THE FORRESTED HILLS IN THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE. THE TERRAIN ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROJECT MERGES WITH THE BUILDING BY BECOMING A ROOF-TOP PLAYGROUND OVER THE PARTIALLY SUBMERGED GYM. THE WOODEN FENCE THAT SURROUNDS THIS PLAYGROUND BLENDS WITH THE FAÇADE AND FOLLOWS THE LINES OF THE BUILDING UP TO THREE ROOF-TOP PEAKS SO THAT THE LANDSCAPE, PLAYGROUND AND THREE ROOF-TOPS ARE PART OF THE SAME CONTINUOUS GESTURE. AFTER THE THIRD “PEAK” THE ROOF BECOMES A LARGE GRASS-COVERED MEADOW THAT SLOPES DOWN TOWARD THE WEST. A GENTLE CURVE IN THE FAÇADE WAS ADDED TO FOLLOW THE CURVE OF THE STREET SO THAT THE BUILDING SITS COMFORTABLY IN ITS SURROUNDINGS. THIS FACADE IS ALSO LINED WITH GLASS PARTITIONS AT THE ENTRANCE LEVEL TO ACTIVATE THE STREET AND CREATE AN OPEN AND CONNECTED RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY. TO FURTHER SUPPORT THIS RELATIONSHIP, THE MAIN ENTRANCE LEADS DIRECTLY INTO THE “HEART” OF THE SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL IS ORGANIZED INTO 3 RINGS LIKE THE GROWTH RINGS OF A TREE: 1. THE HEART 2. BREAK OUT ZONES AND 3. LEARNING STUDIOS. THE HEART IS COMPOSED OF MAKERS-SPACES SUCH AS A WORKSHOP, PRODUCTION STUDIO AND A LAB WHICH ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO COLLABORATION SPACES SUCH AS THE LIBRARY, A CAFÉ AND AN AMPHITHEATRE. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE “HEART” FACILITATES THE CREATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE ESSENCE OF SKAPASKOLAN. THE RING AROUND THE HEART IS CALLED A “BREAK-OUT ZONE.” BREAK-OUT ZONES ARE AREAS WHERE A CLASSROOM (OR LEARNING STUDIO) “BREAKS-OUT” INTO THE CORRIDOR AND BECOMES STUDY AREAS FOR WORKING IN SMALL GROUPS. THESE SPACES FUNCTION AS EXTENSIONS OF THE LEARNING STUDIOS AND REPLACE THE TRADITIONAL CORRIDOR ARRANGEMENT SEEN IN A CONVENTIONAL FLOOR PLAN. THE OUTER RING OF THE PROGRAM IS COMPOSED OF “LEARNING STUDIOS.” SKAPASKOLAN’S CURRICULUM IS BASED UPON INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP WORK AND THERE ARE NO TRADITIONAL LECTURE STYLE CLASSROOMS WITH INDIVIDUAL DESKS. INSTEAD THE ROOMS ARE BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEATING AREAS, EACH DESIGNED FOR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMMUNICATION. AS A RESULT, THE ROOMS FUNCTION LIKE A STUDIO WITH SEVERAL WORKSHOPS OR LESSONS HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT AREAS AT THE SAME TIME.
